Step-ladder or other supporting device



H LIEFER STEP LADDER OR OTHER SUPPORTING DEVICE.

No. 551,445. Patented Dec; 17 ,7,71895.

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and the bars e c of the upper leg 1 of the step-ladder.

8 indicates the straight hinge-strap, which is like the other straps heretofore described in all respects except length and additional nailholes for securing the strap to the upper or front leg of the ladder. One of these straps is fastened to'the outside face of each bar of the upper leg. This may be done, as shown in the drawings, by nails driven through the holes in the straps and into the ends of the hinge-bar F, which is fastened to the bars of the legs. This way is preferable for the reason that the strap is thus made to perfectly cover the joint between the brace-block and the rounded ends of the bars of the rear leg and affords a more ornamental appearance.

9 9 are the inner hinge-straps, which correspond to the outer hin ge-straps 8 8,except that each is bent at right angles so as to fasten to the under side of the hinge-block to which they are all nailed or screwed, and to respectively fit against the inner faces of the bars 6 c of the rear leg.

The outer and inner hinge-straps are so placed that the pivot or rivet f can be inserted through them and the end of the side bar. of the under leg when the same is in,

' one of the straight hinge-straps to form therewith a hinge-socket for the end of one bar of the rear leg, the otherangle hinge-strap fastened to the under side of the hinge-bar near the other straight hinge-strap to form therewith a hinge-socket for the end of the other bar of the rear leg, the rear leg having its side bars rounded at their upper ends and arranged with such rounded ends respectively in such hinge-sockets and fitting into the angle between the hinge-bar and the body of the front leg and the pivots pivoting the rounded ends of the bars of the rear leg in said sockets respectively.

I will now describe the manner in which I apply the folding brace to the step-ladder. I first close the legs together and mark on the several side bars 6 c e c the points at which the brace is to be fastened. The bracepivots 011 the rear leg are set nearer to the top of the ladder than are the brace-pivots on the front leg. I then place the ladder upon one edge and fasten the free ends of two straps to the inner sides of the two side bars which are undermost. The ladder is then turned over and the straps are then sprung apart and the free ends of the other two straps are fastened to the inner sides of the other two side bars of the ladder. Screws or bolts may be used for this purpose; butI prefer to use rivets c, applying a washer h on the outside to hold the head of the rivet.

My invention as thus completed comprises the combination of the front leg, the rear leg hinged at one end to the front leg,the knuckleloop,the four spring-straps arranged with four ends thereof together within the knuckleloop and with their other ends spread apart and pivoted two to the rear leg and two to the front leg respectively, the knuckle-pivot pivoting the knuckle-loop and the strap ends within the knuckle-loop together, and the brace-pivots pivoting the other strap ends to the legs respectively.

Since the brace-pivots on one of the legs are higher than those on the other leg, when the ladder is folded, the difference in height between the ends of the straps which are fastened to the rear leg and the ends of the straps which are fastened to the front leg will cause the straps to bow into a spring, the tendency of which is to cause the joint to bind and to hold the ladder in its folded position. hen the. legs are forcibly spread apart, this spring-bow yields and the brace opens until its arms are almost in one plane. Then the knuckle is pushed down by hand until the upper edges of the arms or members 1 2 3 4 engage the knuckle-loop 5. Then the arms are prevented by the knuckle-loop from moving farther and the brace becomes rigid, slightly bent down at the knuckle, so that before the legs can again be folded together the knuckle must be pushed up. Since the straps on each side of the knuckle are spread apart, the four straps and the legs to which they are pivoted brace one another and give great rigidity to the device.

Now,having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a support such as set forth the combination of the front leg; the rear leg hinged at one end to the front leg; the knuckle loop; the four spring straps arranged with four ends thereof together within the knuckle loop, and sprung apart with their other ends pivoted, two to the rear leg and two to the front leg respectively; the kn tickle-pivot pivoting the knuckle-loop and the strap ends within the knuckle-loop together; and the brace-pivots pivoting the other strap ends to the legs respectively.

2. In a support such as set forth the combination of the front leg; the rear leg hinged at one end to the front leg; the knuckle-loop the four spring straps arranged with four ends thereof together within the knuckle-loop, and with their other ends spread apart and pivoted, two to the rear leg and two to the front leg respectively; the knuckle-pivot pivoting the knuckle-loop and one end of each strap within the knuckleloop together; brace-piv ots pivoting the ends of two of the straps to one of the legs; the brace-pivots pivoting the other ends of the two remaining straps to the other leg at a higher point than the brace-pivots on the first leg.

3. The brace set forth composed of the four spring straps, the knuckle -loop embracing said straps at one end thereof and the pivot V pivoting the straps and the knuckle-loop together.

4. The combination of the front leg pro vided with the hinge-bar; the straight hinge straps fastened respectively to the outer faces of such leg; an angle hinge strap fastened to the under side of the hinge bar near one of the straight hinge straps to form therewith a hinge socket; another angle hinge strap fastened to the under side of the hinge bar near the other straight hinge strap to form therewith a hinge socket; the rear leg having side bars rounded at their upper ends and arranged With such rounded ends respectively in such hinge sockets and fitting into the angle between the hinge bar and the body of the front leg; and the pivots pivoting the rounded ends in said sockets respectively.

v HENRY LIEFER. \Vitnesses JAMES R. TOWNSEND,

OSCAR SGHELLING,

TILLIAM LOEHMANN. 

